The ability to access credit and manage it effectively without spending recklessly will lead lenders to look upon a consumer more favorably. Lenders will also offer better rates to consumers with higher credit scores.
Top 10 Credit Cards for Good Credit
A variety of credit cards are available for people in different situations to manage credit successfully. This helps secure more preferable rates over time, and in some cases, there’s an opportunity to claim cash bonuses and other benefits. The following credit cards are some of the best options for consumers to consider.
Capital One Savor One Cash Back Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Savor One Cash Back Rewards Credit Card is one of the best all-around cards. It offers 3% cash back on everyday purchases like groceries, dining and subscription services. It also offers up to 8% cash back for select ticket purchases. It’s best suited to those with an excellent credit history who wish to continue managing their personal finances carefully.
This card offers a then APR. It also offers a $200 cash bonus if you spend $500 within three months of credit card approval. There are no foreign transaction fees, and travel accident insurance and travel assistance are included.
Pros
- 3% cash back on everyday purchases
- 8% cash back on select ticket purchases
- Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- $200 cash bonus with $500 spent in the first three months of approval
Cons
- Best for those with excellent credit
- High variable APR
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | $0 | Yes |
Discover it Secured Credit Card
With no annual fees attached, the Discover it Secured Credit Card is perfect for someone getting their first credit card or who needs to rebuild credit. Because the card is secured, the initial credit line will match the first deposit amount. Once an account has been opened, Discover will perform an automatic review to determine whether a customer will qualify for an unsecured line of credit.
Provided the customer spends responsibly, the deposit should be returned after seven months. Incentives include 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter, as well as 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash Back Match, another benefit offered by this card, will match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year.
Pros
- 2% cash back on gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cash Back Match for the first year
- No annual fees
Cons
- Requires a deposit
- Initial available credit limited to the amount of deposit
- High APR
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | , but may change based on the market’s prime rate | $0 | None |
Discover it Student Cash Back
Designed for students, Discover it Student Cash Back allows customers to build their credit score early in life while also benefitting from various rewards and bonuses. Students can build their credit score by paying on time, repaying their balance in full and keeping their card balance low. This card has a 99% acceptance in stores nationwide. Plus, it offers 5% cash back on rotating categories when you activate (up to the quarterly cap) like the following:
- Groceries
- Gym memberships
- Gas stations
- PayPal purchases
- Restaurants
- Target purchases
- Amazon purchases
- Digital wallets
Pros
- No annual fee
- No credit score required
- 5% cash back on select categories
- Cashback Match after the first year
Cons
- High APR after 6 months
- Only students can apply
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | $0 | None |
Petal 1 Visa Credit Card
The Petal 1 Visa Card’s credit line starts at $300 and goes up to $5,000. There are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, and customers can qualify for credit line increases within six months. While APRs are on the higher end, Petal 1 customers can take advantage of free tools within the app to build credit faster. This includes payment activity tracking, autopay features and budgeting planners. There is no sign-up bonus but customers can earn as much as 10% cash back with some merchants.
Pros
- Up to 10% cash back on purchases
- No annual fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- Possibility of increasing credit line in six months
Cons
- Credit line limits as low as $300
- High variable APR
- No sign-up bonus
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | $0 | None |
Tomo Credit Card
The Tomo Credit Card helps anyone build a credit score, even if they have no prior credit history. There are no annual fees, interest fees, credit score disqualifications or credit history checks required.
Tomo uses automated payments to help customers build better credit quickly and users also qualify for 1% cash back on their purchases.
Pros
- No credit history required
- No annual fees
- No interest fees
- 1% cash back on purchases
Cons
- Credit limit can be as low as $100
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | None | $0 | None |
Navy FCU nRewards Secured Credit Card
The Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards Secured Credit Card is an excellent option for building credit score. New customers who are also members can check for prequalification without affecting their current credit score. There are no annual fees, foreign transaction fees or cash advance fees. Customers can check to see if they qualify for a credit limit increase after just three months. A review will then be carried out after six months to determine if customers can move on to an unsecured credit card.
Within the first four years, there are no limits on earned rewards. Customers can earn 1.75% cash back on all purchases or a point per dollar spent. Points can be redeemed for cash, credit, gift cards and merchandise. Some other benefits include rental car coverage and member deals at approved retailers.
Pros
- No annual fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- No cash advance fees
- Credit limit increase in as little as three months
- Earn 1x rewards points for every dollar spent
- No limit to rewards earned in the first four years
Cons
- Requires a deposit
- Relatively high APR
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | , but may change based on the market’s prime rate | $0 | None |
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, our partner, is another great option for consumers with good to excellent credit scores. American Express® Card Members who spend at least $3,000 within the first six months are eligible for $250 in a statement of credit. American Express also offers APR.
There are several redeemable discounts for approved retailers, and Card Members are offered many cash back incentives, like:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% cash back on select U.S streaming subscriptions.
- 3% cash back on transit (includes ridesharing)
- 3% cash back on gas
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Pros
- Cash back rewards
- $250 welcome offer with $3,000 in purchases within the first six months
- Generous Intro APR
Cons
- High variable APR
- Annual fee
- Best for those with excellent credit scores
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | Yes |
Terms Apply. All information about Blue Cash Preferred has been collected independently by GOBankingRates.com. Blue Cash Preferred is not available through GOBankingRates.com.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited is for those who already have good to excellent credit scores. It offers an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), which is worth up to $300 cash back. It has then . There are no additional annual fees.
In terms of cash back, this card has the most comprehensive offerings. Customers get:
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3% cash back on dining and delivery
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
- 1.5% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
Pros
- Cash back rewards
- then
- Higher cash back for select categories for the first year or $20,000 spent
- $0 annual fees
Cons
- Best for those with excellent credit
- High variable APR
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | $0 | Yes |
Upgrade Visa Card With Cash Rewards
The Upgrade Visa Card with Cash Rewards gives customers a $200 bonus for opening a checking account and making at least three debit card transactions after signing up. It offers 1.5% cash back on all payments on the condition the balance is paid down.
With credit lines ranging from $500 to $25,000, this card is suitable for a variety of customers. However, Upgrade cannot be used at ATMs like some other credit cards.
Pros
- $200 welcome bonus with three transactions
- 1.5% cash back rewards
- No required fees
Cons
- Credit lines begin as low as $500
- Variable APR
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | $0 | Yes |
SoFi Credit Card
The SoFi Credit Card is for people who already have relatively good credit. It currently offers a $300 bonus and 3% cash back on purchases for 12 months if users sign up with a direct deposit. There is no effect on credit scores for applying.
If customers make 12 monthly on-time payments, the APR will reduce by 1% overall. SoFi’s offering is particularly unique as customers are given the option to redeem points by using them to buy fractional shares or crypto with a SoFi Invest account.
SoFi is partnered with several approved merchants for discounts and free trials, such as DoorDash and Lyft. Some other benefits include:
- Mastercard ID theft protection
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cell phone protection coverage up to $1,000
Pros
- Welcome bonus between $10 and up to $10,000 in rewards points available
- 3% cash back for the first year if direct deposit is linked
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- Variable APR
- Best suited for those with established credit
Cash Back | APR | Annual Fee | Sign-Up Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
Yes | $0 | Yes |
Final Take
A consumer’s credit score determines whether they’ll have access to affordable financing, loan qualification and costs and fees related to important decisions, like taking on a mortgage. The better the credit score, the better overall rates the consumer will get. Any of these cards can help a consumer build or improve their credit history.
Good To Know
Whether a consumer has excellent, poor or no credit history, there are several ways to continue to build or improve credit scores. A credit card can help do that effectively if it’s used wisely.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of July 20, 2022.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the companies mentioned. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the companies mentioned.
GOBankingRates is a personal finance and consumer interest rate website owned by ConsumerTrack Inc., an online marketing company serving top-tier banks, credit unions and other financial services organizations. Some companies mentioned in this article might be clients of ConsumerTrack Inc., which serves more than 100 national, local and online financial institutions. Rankings and roundups are completely objective, and no institution, client or otherwise, paid for inclusion or specific placement. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the companies included in the article. All fees and rates are subject to change at the issuers’ discretion. Some interest rates might be short-term or promotional offers only, and it is possible additional terms and conditions must be met to obtain the interest rates listed. Rates and availability might vary by region. Verify terms and conditions before opening an account.
GOBankingRates bases its assessment of “best” and “top” products on the above-stated parameters to create a baseline for comparison. This assessment is an approximation of “best” and “top” designed to help consumers find products that might be appropriate for them. There could be other options available as well. Consumers should consider various options appropriate for their circumstances.